Emma Ebert
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin School of Business
MBA Graduation Year: 2019
Specialization: Corporate Finance and Investment Banking
Hometown: Naples, Florida
Internship: Finance Intern, Global Net Revenue Management, SC Johnson
I learned a lot in seven years of working in banking, but I always wanted to expand my skills. I knew an education with experienced faculty and industry experts would expand my knowledge and propel my career. The specialization model at Wisconsin was the obvious choice for me to get a deep dive to advance in finance. After visiting Wisconsin and learning more about the structure of the program, it was clear that the extra emphasis on finance beyond the general business curriculum would set me apart from other candidates.
The faculty and staff here genuinely want you to succeed. After a short few days, the admissions team knew my name and my story. I have lived in seven states in the last seven years due to my husband’s military career and I have never experienced the sincerity I have found in Madison and at the Wisconsin School of Business.
After visiting Wisconsin, it was clear that the extra emphasis on finance beyond the general business curriculum would set me apart from other candidates.
—Emma Ebert
The caliber of companies that partner with the Wisconsin School of Business on real-world, impactful projects is another reason I chose Wisconsin. As an example, the first-year MBA students are working with medical device company Medtronic on a way to advance diabetes care in sub-Saharan Africa. We have an exceptional opportunity to integrate things we have learned from several of our core classes—including Strategy, Marketing, Corporate Finance and Operations, and Technology Management—and apply them to a real-word business challenge.
At Wisconsin I am strengthening and developing skills through collaborative team projects and presentations to top companies. The analytical skills that I am gaining, specifically financial modeling, and the confidence presenting results will be most useful in my career. I am learning a lot from my courses and particularly enjoyed a class taught by Brad Chandler, the director of the Nicholas Center for Corporate Finance and Investment Banking and a former managing director at Morgan Stanley in New York City.
This program offers many avenues to develop leadership skills. In addition to significant leadership development within the curriculum, outside leadership opportunities abound. I am treasurer of the Graduate Business Association and a member of Graduate Women in Business and the Graduate Finance Organization. These programs have honed my leadership skills and added depth to my MBA experience.